Cricket

Ollie Pope's appointment as England's Test captain for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka has sparked discussions about his leadership potential and the team's preparations for the Ashes next year. Former captain Nasser Hussain believes Pope's experience as captain will be invaluable, especially if Ben Stokes is injured in the future.Hussain emphasized the importance of having multiple leadership options, particularly in a high-stakes series like the Ashes. He noted that Pope's appointment will allow him to gain valuable experience and develop his leadership skills. However, Hussain also acknowledged that Pope's leadership style may not be as natural as Stokes's.Michael Atherton echoed Hussain's views, suggesting that Pope may feel like a "caretaker" captain in Stokes's absence. He believes Pope may be hesitant to make significant changes to the team's approach, given Stokes's strong influence.The article also discusses England's selection dilemmas, with Zak Crawley ruled out due to injury. Hussain believes head coach Brendon McCullum will prioritize innovation over recalling dropped players. He suggests that younger players like Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, and Olly Stone could be considered for higher batting positions.Atherton highlighted the potential of Dan Lawrence to bring his aggressive style to the top order in Crawley's absence. He believes Lawrence will relish the opportunity to open the batting and contribute to England's positive approach.Overall, the article provides insights into the challenges and opportunities facing England as they prepare for the Sri Lanka series and the Ashes. Pope's leadership, the team's selection decisions, and the impact of McCullum's coaching philosophy will be key factors to watch in the upcoming matches.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reaffirmed its trust in Shan Masood as the Test captain for the upcoming international season. The decision was made during a meeting attended by senior board officials, national selectors, and coaches Jason Gillespie, Gary Kirsten, and Azhar Mahmood.Masood, who took over the Test captaincy ahead of the tour to Australia earlier this year, has received a complete vote of confidence. He will lead Pakistan in Test series against Bangladesh, England, South Africa, and the West Indies between August and January.However, the decision on Babar Azam's white-ball captaincy has been put on hold. Babar's performance as captain and batsman came under scrutiny during the recent T20 World Cup, where Pakistan suffered a disappointing exit.Sources indicate that Babar faced criticism for his lack of leadership skills and strength under pressure. The PCB is considering options and will make a decision on his white-ball captaincy in the future.Meanwhile, former Pakistan pacer Sarfraz Nawaz has called for the sacking of the entire selection committee, citing their collective incompetence in the T20 World Cup and the build-up to it. Nawaz specifically criticized the appointment of Wahab Riaz, who held various roles within the selection committee and management.The PCB is expected to announce a comprehensive blueprint for the national team in both red and white-ball formats in the coming days. The focus will be on improving performance and rebuilding the team's confidence after a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.

Babar Azam's hopes of regaining the Test captaincy have suffered a significant setback following Pakistan's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup. Sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have indicated that Shan Masood will retain the Test captaincy for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh in August.The decision to retain Masood as Test captain is reportedly based on the PCB's dissatisfaction with Babar's leadership abilities, particularly in the wake of Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup. The tournament saw Pakistan suffer consecutive defeats to the USA and India, effectively ending their chances of reaching the Super 8 stage.Masood was initially appointed as Test captain after Babar relinquished the captaincy in all formats following Pakistan's disappointing performance at last year's ODI World Cup. Shaheen Afridi was subsequently named as the T20I captain, but his brief tenure ended in April this year after Pakistan's 4-1 series defeat to New Zealand.Prior to the T20 World Cup, Babar was reinstated as the white-ball captain in a move described by the PCB as a "strategic decision." However, the move failed to yield the desired results, with Pakistan crashing out of the tournament in the group stage.The PCB's decision to retain Masood as Test captain is a clear indication of their lack of confidence in Babar's leadership abilities. The upcoming Bangladesh series will be the first assignment for former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie as Pakistan's red-ball head coach.